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Daily Radiogram

November 2002

-VOLUME 17 NO. 231, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27, 2002-

What had been a fairly smooth series of annexation hearings for the Dayton City Council hit a bump Monday night when a large group of residents of the FM 1960 area crowded into council chambers to voice their opposition. Council was presented with a petition signed by 52 residents opposed to the city’s planned annexation of a 7-mile corridor along FM 1960. With two council members absent, several homeowners in the affected area said they would be back for the second set of hearings next Monday night to reiterate their opposition.

Eight Liberty Panthers have been named to the District 22-3A Head Coach’s All-District Football First Team: Nose Guard Jimmy Capps, Linebacker Steven Havard, Free Safety Gary Trahan, Strong Safety Stanley Bellard, Offensive Center John Arnold, Tight End William Brooks, Kicker Karim Cruz and Running Back Eric Moss. Liberty’s Sophomore Quarterback Shane Smart is the District 22-3A Newcomer of the Year.

At yesterday’s Liberty County Commissioners Court meeting, Commissioners officially accepted the Certificate of Achievement for County Treasurer Janet Harrelson and appointed her County Investment Officer. Ms. Harrelson completed 40 hours of formal classroom instruction and a comprehensive exam to obtain the certification, a professional credential from the Texas Association of Counties.

The Spirit of Sharing in Liberty is beginning their Annual "Operation Noel" Program to provide toys and other assistance to families in need in South Liberty County during the holiday season. Christmas trees with the names of needy children are in local businesses for those who wish to buy toys and return them for distribution by December 7th. Toys and other donations can also be brought to the SOS Thrift Shop on Beaumont Avenue.

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday there will be no Shine All Nine Radiogram on Thursday or Friday of this week.

Liberty County Sheriff’s Detective Chip Fairchild said family members of 54-year-old Nell Butler were concerned when she did not show up for work last Saturday evening and one relative went to her home between Hardin and Hull. Ms. Butler was found in her home, dead of a gunshot wound to the head. Precinct #2 JP Ronnie Davis ordered an autopsy and the initial investigation indicates the wound was self-inflicted. Nell Butler had reportedly been taking medication for an emotional disorder.

The Spirit of Sharing in Liberty is now open in their new headquarters adjacent to the SOS Thrift Shop on Beaumont Avenue. The charity organization that has served South Liberty County residents for many years is now located in a new 1,440 square foot structure facing Texas Avenue with 7 or 8 rooms that include a reception area, interview rooms, a small kitchen, file room and offices. SOS Director Sherry Wolf said some cosmetic work remains, but the organization is open for business helping to provide clothing, food and in some cases, utility assistance to those who are temporarily in need. The SOS Office and Thrift Shop are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 until 3. The Thrift Shop is also open Saturday.

Bill Griffin, the City of Liberty’s Interim Police Chief announced last week that longtime patrol officer Hugh Bishop is being promoted to the position of detective effective immediately. Officer Bishop has, in addition to his patrol duties, also served as Public Information Officer acting as a liaison between the department and news media, as well as with the city’s division of emergency management. Detective Hugh Bishop is a 12-year law enforcement veteran.

The Liberty County Courthouse will close at noon tomorrow and remain closed until Monday, December 2nd due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. All municipal offices in both Liberty and Dayton will be closed on Thursday and Friday of this week. Garbage service will not run on Thursday, but regular garbage pick up will resume on Friday. All banks and post offices will be closed on Thursday only and reopen for regular hours on Friday.

The Dayton Broncos move to the Class 4A Division One Football State Quarterfinals after a 31 to 14 victory over the Angleton Wildcats Saturday. Next for Jerry Stewart’s Broncos is the Conroe Oak Ridge War Eagles. That will be at Thorne Stadium in Aldine at 6 pm Saturday. Tickets are at Dayton campuses and the Administration building. $5 for adults, $3 for students and at the gate for everyone, $6. The Liberty Panthers finished their season with a hard-fought 23 to 14 loss to Bellville Friday night. It was an impressive run for the Panthers who rose from an 0-3 start to the Class 3-A Area Playoffs.

The new Liberty County YMCA Program offers holiday childcare on Wednesday and Friday while school is out for Thanksgiving. It is open to all Liberty Co. kids but only at Liberty Elementary school. Qualified child care YMCA staff will care for children, ages 5 to 12, between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. those two days. Cost is $15 per child and registration forms are at Liberty Elementary and Stephen F. Austin Elementary in Dayton or call 936-346-4358 with help if you can’t afford it.

Liberty Police Officer Kenneth Taylor said Friday night Cliff Foster, Jr., 44 of Liberty, lost control of his truck on Hwy. 90. It rolled into a ditch across from Terrell’s Auto Parts in Liberty. Life Flight Air Ambulance transported the seriously injured man to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. Sunday a hospital spokesperson said he is now in good condition. Cause of the wreck is still under investigation

Early online registration for the spring semester at Lee College in Baytown has begun. Students can either pick up a list of all courses on campus or online at www.lee.edu. You can also register for classes and purchase textbooks online. Early registration runs through December 19th. Credits earned at Lee College will transfer to most four-year universities.

Wilma Barrow, 79, of Devers, Services at noon Tuesday at Navarre Funeral Home in Baytown.

**LAKE RELEASE: 1,000 CFS*LIBERTY BRIDGE: 7.46 ASL **

-VOLUME 17 NO. 227, THURSDAY, NOV. 21, 2002-

Dayton Police report that two male juveniles are in custody in connection with burglaries at the Dyna Nails 2 Manicure Salon on Hwy 90 and Pappy’s BBQ located right next door. The two suspects one age 16 and one age 15 are in the Montgomery County Detention Facility pending a hearing on charges of burglary and criminal mischief. Losses to the businesses were minimal but both sustained damage inside and out.

The Dayton School Board met Tuesday night and heard from their auditor Ray Smith of the Wiggins and Smith CPA Firm about the district’s financial shape. Smith said the DISD is in good shape with a larger than usual fund balance. Since this was a 10-month audit report it is expected that balance- the money in reserve after the rest has been committed to the budget- would be higher than in the usual 12-month fiscal year audit.

Liberty School Trustees met Tuesday night and heard from Dr. Don Killough, Superintendent Search Consultant for the Texas Association of School Boards. Killough said information from more than 100 community members indicates they want the person hired to replace the retiring Dr. Douglas Moore as LISD Superintendent to continue, and even increase, the district’s emphasis on academics. The interview process is expected to take most of February with a new school superintendent, hopefully on the job by the first of June.

According to information from the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, construction is completed on the observation and pier on Champion Lake. The cost of building the pier came from private donations and it is now open during daylight hours.

The Dayton Noon Lions Club’s Annual Radio Auction is tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon here on Shine All Nine. Listeners are invited to call in and bid on more than 100 items donated by local businesses to support the Noon Lions’ program benefiting disabled DISD students.

11/21 FUNERALS:

Lois M. Jackson, 59, of Dayton, Services at 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Miles Baptist Church in Liberty.

Betty Jo Leonard, 61, of Tarkington, Services at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Tabernacle Assembly of God Church in Baytown.

**LAKE RELEASE: 3,000 CFS*LIBERTY BRIDGE: 9.32 ASL **

-VOLUME 17 NO. 226, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20, 2002-

The Dayton City Council met Monday night to discuss the planned annexation of the two tracts of land that comprises the huge CMC Railyard on Hwy 146. Council heard from engineer Craig Kankel on how much it would cost to provide water and sewer services to the railyard to help bring in commercial development, while financial advisor Mark McLinney offered ideas on how the funds to do so may be obtained. Council also held the first of two required public hearings on their annexation proposals, including the more than 141 acres on Hwy 90 where the Huntsman Corporation is located.

The manual recount of the votes in the November 5th race for Precinct #6 Liberty County Justice of the Peace requested by Republican Candidate Will Cox was conducted at the Liberty County Courthouse Monday night, resulting in a count difference too slight to effect the outcome. County Clerk Delia Sellers said the recount showed Cox with 16 fewer votes than on election night, while Democratic Incumbent Fred Dishongh had 15 fewer votes than on election night, but still he won by a wide margin. We reported that rumors of voting machine inaccuracies led Mr. Cox to ask for the recount, but Mrs. Sellers said human error probably led to the discrepancy. The final result was a difference of just one vote in the overall totals.

Dayton Police said three young local men are in custody after allegedly burglarizing three homes in and around North Winfree Street, all between 9 a.m. and noon Monday. Sgt. Doug O’Quinn said witnesses saw 18-year-old Randy Levine, Charles Hayden Jr., 20, both of Liberty and Kendall Hubert, 17, of Dayton enter one home and alerted police. The three suspects reportedly fled into a nearby wooded area but were all apprehended later that same day. Randy Levine has reportedly also confessed to several other break-ins over the past few days.

A benefit concert for the Daisetta Police Department is set for this Saturday night at 7 in the TVE Arena on FM 563 in Liberty. Popular area Zydeco Artist Wayne Toups will be on stage, along with local band "Lost in the Shuffle". Advance tickets are $10 each at Brookshire Brothers, Milam’s Discount Tires, the Body Shop and Mr. Bandman in Liberty, Thrif-tee Foods in Dayton, Mont Belvieu and Silsbee and at 2-J’s Grocery in Devers.

**LAKE RELEASE: 3,000 CFS*LIBERTY BRIDGE: 10.39 ASL **

-VOLUME 17 NO. 225, TUESDAY, NOV. 19, 2002-

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 47-year-old Craig Ogan is scheduled to die by lethal injection today in Huntsville for the 1989 murder of James "Doc" Boswell a Houston Police Officer and former Liberty High School Teacher. James Boswell taught at LHS in 1984 and 1985, again in 1988 before becoming a Houston City Policeman. Ogan was convicted of gunning down Officer Boswell the following year and has been on death row since July of 1990.

Liberty County Day is not until February 24th, but those planning to ride the chartered buses to Austin for the event should make reservations now. A 15-passenger van will leave a day early on Sunday February 23rd and two buses will leave on the 24th itself, returning home around 9 that night. The cost is $25 per person and includes pastries and beverages. To make reservations, call the Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce at 936-336-5736 or the Cleveland Chamber at 281-592-8786.

The Dayton Noon Lions Club will hold their Annual Radio Auctions on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to Noon here on All Nine Radio. Listeners can call in and bid on a variety of merchandise and gift certificates donated by local businesses and all proceeds will benefit the Noon Lions’ program to help Dayton ISD students with disabilities. To donate auction items, call Linda Williamson at 258-3522.

Advance tickets are on sale now for the Liberty and Dayton Area Playoff Games this weekend. The Liberty Panthers play Bellville Friday night at 7:30 in Tomball. $5 General Admission and $3 Student tickets are on sale at the LISD Administration Offices, student tickets are also on sale at Liberty High, Middle and Elementary Schools. Tickets for Dayton’s Playoff Game with Angleton Saturday at 2 p.m. in Pasadena are also $5 for General Admission- available at the DISD Administration Offices- and $3 for student tickets available on all Dayton campuses. Gate tickets for both games are all $6 each.

11/19 FUNERALS:

Jeremy Anderson, 27, of Atascosita, formerly of Liberty. Services today at 1pm at 1st Baptist Church in Buna, Texas.

Maxie Lowery, 72, of Dayton, Services at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton.

Federal help is now available for residents and business owners affected by recent flooding. Liberty County is now included in those eligible for disaster assistance. You can get information on these programs at Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Houston and Beaumont. In Houston it’s in Greenbriar Shopping Center on Imperial Valley Drive. In Beaumont, go to the St. Andrews Church Hall on North 23rd St. Montgomery, Hardin, Harris, Jefferson and Orange Counties also are included in those in Texas eligible for help. To apply for federal help, call 1-800-621-3362. For the hearing impaired, dial 1-800-462-7585.

Liberty/Chambers County Narcotics Task Force has made another major drug arrest. Officers pulled over a vehicle driven by 24-year-old Raymundo Deloya on Hwy 59 in Cleveland, Wednesday October 30th. After a trained drug detection dog drew suspicion to the car, further investigation revealed the driver was a Mexican citizen in the U.S. illegally. A search of the vehicle produced nearly 28 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $1.1 million. Deloya has been transferred from the Liberty County Jail to a federal prison in Beaumont facing arraignment on federal drug conspiracy charges.

The Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon is this Wednesday at noon in the Liberty City Hall Auditorium. This month’s guest speakers are retiring District Judge J.C. "Zeke" Zbranek and his son, State Representative Zeb Zbranek, who himself did not seek re-election. Lunch is $6 per plate. For reservations, call the Chamber Office at 336-5736.

In the high school football playoffs -- The Liberty Panthers rallied to defeat Orangefield 14-10 and will next play Bellville. That game will be Friday night at 7:30 in Tomball. State ranked Class 4a power, Dayton pounded Waltrip 59-6 and now faces Angleton Saturday at 2 in Pasadena. Both area games are on KSHN. Hardin lost their playoff game to Coldspring 20-12.

11/18 FUNERALS:

James Lee "Bubba" Randolph, Jr., 56, of Liberty, Services at 11 a.m. today at Trinity Valley Baptist Church in Liberty.

Three members of a Cleveland area family pled guilty to four counts each of felony injury to a child yesterday in Judge Chap Cain’s 253rd District Court. District Attorney Mike Little said Brian Beebe, 55, his wife Edith, 46 and Justin Martin, 20 Edith Beebe’s son by a previous marriage were charged with the systematic abuse of their 5 adopted children leading to the death of one- Joseph Beebe, age 8, in March of 2000. The guilty pleas followed immediately a jury’s determination that Edith Beebe was competent to stand trial. Sentencing is set for January 30th and each count carries a sentence of from 5 to 99 years in prison.

There is unhappy news from one of Liberty’s best-known families: John Baldwin Daniel, 54, the youngest son of the late Texas Governor Price Daniel of Liberty died unexpectedly Tuesday at his home in a small town near Ashville, North Carolina. Family members said funeral services are at 2 p.m. Sunday at 1st United Methodist Church in Liberty.

Liberty County Sheriff’s Detective Todd Mauthe said 33-year-old Glenda Morrow would face criminal charges in connection to the death of her eight-month-old daughter Courtney in a fire at their home in January of this year. The woman and two other children escaped without injury from the fire west of Dayton that investigators have determined was caused by careless use of smoking materials. Currently incarcerated in the Department of Criminal Justice for violating probation in an unrelated matter, Glenda Morrow will be arraigned on charges of Criminally Negligent Homicide and Child Endangerment upon her release.

Will Cox, the Republican Candidate for Liberty County Precinct # 6 Justice of the Peace on November 5th has formally requested a recount of the votes in his unsuccessful race against Democratic Incumbent Fred Dishongh. Mr. Cox said in a press release that his request is unrelated to any statements over voting irregularities recently made by State and local GOP Officials and involves only his concerns over voting machine accuracy.

11/15 FUNERALS:

Martha J. Franklin, 38, of Crosby, Services at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Rock of Ages Church in Crosby.

According to information from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department, it was around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday when a call came in that a one-year-old child had nearly drowned in a small private pond in the Trinity River Plaza Subdivision. Reportedly, a 16-year-old boy pulled the younger child from the pond and administered CPR until Liberty County EMS arrived. The victim was transported to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston and is said to be in fair condition as of yesterday afternoon.

Liberty County Commissioners met Tuesday and approved the canvassed voting results from November 5th’s General Election. This over the pleas of Melinda Fredericks, State Republican Executive Committee Woman for State Senate District #4, who said Republican Party Officials have found evidence of multiple potential violations of state election law, including fraudulent voter activity. Nevertheless, Commissioners approved the canvassed results and Ms. Fredericks said the investigation into the alleged election law violations would continue.

The Liberty County Health Awareness Coalition and Liberty County EMS will be giving away more child safety seats this Saturday, this time in Dayton. To receive a free child seat, you will need to call and register for the required educational program on safe installation and use. To register, call 936-336-4558, Ext. 221 or 281-593-0405, also Ext. 221.

The Annual Great Gobbler Giveaway begins today here on All Nine Radio. Between now and Thanksgiving, Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton will be giving away 100 ten-to-twelve pound frozen turkeys at the rate of 10 per day, Monday through Friday. There is no obligation or sales pitch involved and the only rule is a limit of one turkey per household. Listen to Shine All Nine for your chance to call in and win a "great gobbler" from Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton.

11/14 FUNERALS:

Laura Jackson Howe, 60, of Kerrville, Memorial service at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Kerrville.

Steve Hampton Miles, 54, of Kenefick, Services at 11 a.m. at the Robey Funeral Home in Baytown.

Liberty Fire Chief Jamie Galloway said it was around 8 a.m. yesterday when firefighters arrived at the home of Josh and Mary Patton in the Oak Forest Subdivision to find fire roaring from the carport area and into the back rooms. An exact cause for the fire has not been determined, but the house suffered heavy damage and most of its contents were destroyed.

Liberty County Emergency Management Coordinator Leroy Hanel is urging those who have suffered damages as a result of the recent flooding to contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency and report it. The number is 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing impaired. Those who have had or still have floodwater in their homes can get cleaning supplies from the American Red Cross at 1-800-GET-HELP.

According to information from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department 40-year-old Robert Wesley MacDonald was allegedly shoplifting cigarettes at Lambert’s Grocery in Romayor around 3 p.m. Monday. Storeowner Richard Lambert and an employee reportedly confronted the man and a fight ensued. Lambert and his employee suffered minor injuries and Sheriff’s Deputies arrived to find the suspect had been overpowered and hog-tied with rope. MacDonald was arrested on felony robbery charges.

All Nine Sports will broadcast all three of this weekend’s bi-district playoff games involving local high school football teams. Friday night’s Split Channel Sports broadcast has the Liberty Panthers against the Orangefield Bobcats at Memorial Stadium on the left side of our stereo signal. The Hardin Hornets playoff game against the Coldspring Trojans at Barbers Hill will be on the right side. Our broadcast of the games starts at 7:20 p.m. On Saturday, the Dayton Broncos meet the Waltrip Rams at Pasadena’s Memorial Stadium. Hear it on Shine All Nine beginning shortly before the 7 p.m. kick off.

A water main break on the main well at the Devers Water Supply plant forced the system to be turned off for much of Monday. Workers encountered more trouble causing the system to be out of service overnight. Once restored, Devers citizens should boil water used for drinking for the next 72 hours. For more call Devers City Hall at 549-7474. During non-business hours, call Devers Mayor Donna Traywick at 549-6319.

On Nov.1st, two months earlier than planned, Frontier Health Care, the same company that operates the Winnie Hospital, took over Liberty-Dayton Hospital, changing its name to Liberty-Dayton Community Hospital. Northeast Health Management still owns the building. Frontier has a lease management agreement for now. In order to change to a critical access hospital, the 35-bed facility will scale back to 12 to 15 beds. Sean Stricker will stay on as administrator and says they still have about 106 employees down only a few. . .

We understand Milam Discount Tire Store owner, David Milam 49, was released from the hospital Sunday and is now recovering from that accidental gunshot wound at home. Last week Mr. Milam shot himself in the leg while examining a hand gun belonging to Sheriff Greg Arthur. Liberty Police Officer Hugh Bishop said the incident was accidental but the bullet broke the large bone in the Liberty businessman’s leg. .

The Dayton City Council met with City Planner Brian LaBorde last night on his proposal to create a Planning and Zoning Commission in Dayton. Mayor Larry Harris said the proposal will be considered for approval next Monday.

Charlene Atkison, former county extension agent here, died unexpectedly in a Tyler hospital Sunday. No details.

Bob Kopecky, 56 of Dayton, Serv. Sat at 1pm St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dayton.

**LAKE RELEASE: 9,000 CFS*LIBERTY BRIDGE: 27.16 ASL **

-VOLUME 17 NO. 219, FRIDAY, NOV. 08, 2002-

A Liberty County Grand Jury yesterday no-billed both former Hull-Daisetta Math Teacher James Barcroft and Hull-Daisetta High School Principal Bert Vandiver over a recent incident in which Barcroft reportedly sold a 15" Bowie knife to a student on school grounds. Interim Superintendent Lynn Cummins said while no criminal charges will be filed Barcroft has, as reported, resigned and Vandiver remains on administrative leave pending a final disposition by the school board. Cummins said there was clearly no intent by anyone to break the law or to do harm, but the district’s zero tolerance for weapons is taken seriously. The student has returned to school after a four-day expulsion.

The Chambers County Sheriff’s Department reports that Deputy Larry Fechner Jr. pulled over an SUV for a traffic violation on I-10 and discovered roughly 6 pounds of cocaine- in the form of bricks, cookies and powder- in the vehicle. A reported $39,500 in cash was also seized. The driver, 28-year-old Arthur Lawrence, believed to be from Brooklyn, New York is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond on drug possession charges.

The Liberty-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Country Christmas celebrations are set for Tuesday December 3rd in Liberty and Thursday December 5th in Dayton. Entry forms for this year’s Country Christmas Parades are available now at the Chamber Office and Liberty Elementary School in Liberty, at St. Joseph Catholic Church and Trevor Boyce Assoc. in Dayton. Entry forms should be returned by Tuesday Nov.19th. For more information on Country Christmas, call 336-5736.

Monday is Veterans Day and the Liberty County Courthouse as well as all municipal offices in Liberty will be closed in observance of the holiday. All of the city offices in Dayton will however be open for regular hours. Garbage service in both Liberty and Dayton will run as scheduled Monday. All banks and post offices will be closed for the holiday. .

Liberty County Republican Party Chair Richard Pegues said an investigation is underway into possible irregularities in Tuesday’s Election. Mr. Pegues said while little is known at this point, it appears as if a Republican Alternate Judge was dismissed from at least one Precinct Box while voting was underway and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department has been asked to seal two election boxes pending further investigation. If true, it would be a violation of state election law to have a representative from only one party overseeing a polling place. The Republican Party Chair said GOP attorneys will make a determination about what action, if any, to pursue in the matter.

With the Trinity River expected to crest near 29 feet above sea level in Liberty tomorrow afternoon, the Liberty Emergency Management Office is requesting a voluntary evacuation of the South Liberty Oilfield before access roads become impassable due to flood water. Liberty County Emergency Management Coordinator Leroy Hanel had already requested a similar evacuation of flood prone subdivisions in the Trinity River Basin. For more information, call 936-336-4558, Ext. 239.

With one more regular season game to go, the time, date and opponent for the Dayton Broncos first playoff game have been decided. The undefeated Broncos will face the Houston Waltrip Rams at 7 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 16th at Pasadena Memorial Stadium. Advance tickets go on sale Monday at the Dayton ISD Administration Building, $5 General Admission and $3 Student. All gate tickets will be $6 each. All Nine Radio will broadcast all of the Dayton Broncos Playoff Games live.

The Liberty County Health Awareness Coalition and Liberty County EMS will hold another Child Safety Seat Giveaway this Saturday, primarily for, but not limited to residents in the Cleveland area. You will need to register for the free safety devices in advance, by calling 281-593-0405, Ext. 221. Another giveaway is coming up soon in the Dayton area.

Today is Election Day and in addition to casting ballots in numerous statewide races, Liberty County voters will also be deciding one countywide race, four precinct races and three district wide races. Republican Lester Ray Wisegerber is hoping to unseat Democratic Incumbent Lloyd Kirkham as Liberty County Judge, Precinct #4’s new County Commissioner will be either Democrat Norman Brown or Republican Paul Kelly. Three Democrat incumbent JP’s face opposition from Republican challengers: Precinct #4 JP Glenn Pruitt by Larry Wilburn, Precinct #5 JP Burl Thomas by Bernadine Ringawald and Precinct #6 JP Fred Dishongh by Will Cox. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and All Nine News will provide live election return coverage shortly after the polls close tonight.

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Department was called by Frank Meadows to his home north of Plum Grove last Friday when he discovered a surprise in a box of items purchased at a garage sale: a mortar round. Deputy William Tullos suspected the old rusty shell could still be live and cleared the immediate area while the Houston Police Bomb Squad was summoned. HPD Officers determined the round, that possibly dated back to World War II was indeed live and transported it safely away.

The Liberty School Board has scheduled two public meetings tomorrow to provide community input to TASB Superintendent Search Services representatives in determining what kind of person should be hired to replace the retiring Dr. Douglas Moore as LISD Superintendent. Those meetings are at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Liberty High Special Events Room.

City of Liberty residents will be voting "for" or "against" three amendments to the city’s Home Rule Charter on today’s ballot. Proposition #1 setting a one-year residence requirement for those running for city council, Proposition #2 allows the appointment of two alternate members of the City Planning and Zoning Commission and Proposition #3 allows city officials to do business with the city if certain requirements are met first.

You may have heard Texans vote tomorrow to decide numerous state, district and local races. When early voting ended Friday, 4,077 of the more than 30,000 registered voters in Liberty County had done their duty. Contested local races on the ballots include County Judge, Precinct #4 Commissioner, District #18 State Representative, District #4 State Senator and Justice of the Peace for Precincts #4, #5 and #6. Polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow and All Nine Radio will provide live coverage from the counting room at the courthouse when the polls close.

Dayton Police say, around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Charlie Robertson, 57 of Deer Park, was on Hwy. 146 South, near the Dayton city limits, when he veered into the other lane and collided with another vehicle. Mr. Robertson suffered a minor facial laceration and declined medical treatment. The driver of the northbound vehicle, who’s name was not available, was taken to San Jacinto Methodist Hospital in Baytown with head and facial injuries not thought to be life-threatening. A Dayton Police officer says, evidence indicates, Charlie Robertson fell asleep at the wheel causing the wreck.

Nominations for the 2003 Trinity Valley Exposition Board of Directors are being accepted. Directors serve 2-year terms and cannot be elected more than twice in a row. You can mail in your choice to the TVE Board of Directors, P.O. Box 9047, Liberty, Texas 77575. The TVE Board meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Nominees must be a resident of Liberty or Chambers County. For more information, call 336-7455, or 336-7055.

The Liberty Panthers racked up another win Friday night, defeating the Hargrave Falcons in Huffman 41 to 7. The Dayton Broncos’ 9-0 season gets better -- 45 to 0 over Smiley. That’s the 3rd shut out for the Broncos. Hardin beat Hampshire-Fannett 12 to 10, but Hull-Daisetta lost to East Chambers 36 to 0.

Governor Bill Daniel of Liberty told a reporter for the Waco Tribune Newspaper that he was surprised and angry over the decision by Waco’s Baylor University to file a suit against him, requesting a full accounting of assets left to the university by his father, M.P. Daniel 65 years ago. Baylor officials plan to liquidate those assets, comprising land and some $3 million in endowments and investing it for scholarship purposes. Baylor President Robert Sloan expressed gratitude to the famed Liberty attorney for managing the land since his father’s death but offered no explanation about why a lawsuit was deemed necessary to obtain the information. Bill Daniel, the former governor of Guam, said he was upset, but would cooperate.

According to the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department, 18-year-old David Michael Harmon, Jr. of Liberty has been arrested and identified as the suspect who abducted a 20-year-old woman from a Baytown car wash on Tuesday October 22nd, later attacking and robbing her. Sheriff Monroe Kruezer said media coverage and tips from concerned citizens led law officers to the Liberty teen, who is currently being held without bond in the Chambers County Jail, charged with aggravated robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

Liberty City Manager Allen Barnes said yesterday’s deadline to submit resumes for the job of Liberty Police Chief ended with more than 60 resumes in hand to replace the recently retired Billy Tidwell as top cop. Mr. Barnes said of those applicants, he is focusing on eight from which he then plans to narrow the field to three by evaluating backgrounds and scheduling interviews. Detective Bill Griffin will continue to act as Interim Police Chief until a new chief is hired, hopefully early in 2003.

Dayton Police report that 60-year-old Frank MacKinder Salee of Houston has been charged with Indecency with a Child under 14, a second-degree felony. Police said the offense took place within the Dayton City Limits and said the Houston man is an acquaintance of the alleged victim’s family. Salee is being held on a $100,000 bond at the Liberty County Jail.